The more I think about, the more I think it was inevitable Russia would join the Stans in going under China's power.
1. See my thread 'Russia is becoming a Central Asian Muslim country'. Demographically Russia is being taken over from within by Central Asians.
https://incels.is/threads/russia-is-becoming-a-central-asian-muslim-country.406529/
2. Moscow became the center of power of Russia during the 1200's, during the rule by the Mongols. The Duke of Moscow became their proxy for power in Russia. That shifted the capital of Russia from Kiev, to Moscow. And Moscow rules like an Asian dictatorship, not like a European state. When the Mongols were chased out, much of the upper class of Russia was Mongols, they didn't go away, they just merged in with the Russian elites. So long story short, here is a country that is Asiatic in its organization and thinking, its not a good match for Europe, but it is a good match for China.
3. China really could use Russia's resources. And Russia needs someone who can do mass scale engineering, construction, manufacturing and has the money to do large scale projects to develop the resources and the marketplace for them, aka China. China can buy resources like currently on the world market, but it would rather buy them from client states it has some level of control over, for energy security.
Put it all together and you can see why the West and Russia don't get along. But Russia and China find they see things the same way and have mutual interests.
Of course where the huge conflict is, is Russia is militarist and imperialist. It won't stop wanting to expand further into Europe if it is allied with China. That will make Russia stronger and not reliant on the West.
For example the big fear the West has, is Russia with a huge army, and high-tech Chinese military equipment and Russia with tons of money to finance wars.
www.moneycontrol.com
